To the miehle printing



Jan.A 27, 1931.

E. F. DpDLEY PRINTING PRESS CONXLROL MECHANISH Filed June 1"!5.'v 1928 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 27, 1931. ELF. DUDLEY 1,790,465

` PRINTING PRESS coNTRoL uEcHANIsu Filed June 15, 1928, 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Jan-,27, 1931. E.' E. DuDLEY 1,790,455

PRINTING PRESS CONTROL IIEGHANISII Filed June 15. '192s a sheets-sheet sPatented Jan. *27, `1931 UNITI-:D STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD n. DUDLEILyor OAK-PARK, III-IIINOis, `AssIefNon 'ro ,fran MIEIILE PRINTING rmiss &MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOISPRINTING-PaeseCONTROLMECHANISM f Appiicanon inea :rune i5, 192s. 'serialNQ. 285,615.

gage a sheet while at rest On'such supplyv means.' Thereupon the sheetis conveyedV by the transfer gripper mechanism toward the cylinder yat aVspeed which is accelerated to attain the surface speed of the cylinderat the -moment'when the sheet so conveyed is transferred from thetransfer ugrippers -tO the grippers of the impression cylinder.

One of the principal objects of my invention is tov provide automaticYoperating mechanism, whereby, when a-sheetis not p resented to thegrippers of the' transfer grip'- per mechanism, the latter is renderedineffective, while the press itself can still continue to operate ifrequired, so that the sheets.,

which at that timerare passing through the press, can; bedeliveredwithout interrupting the operation of the press itself. Y

v Another object of my invention resldes in the provision of meanswhereby the transfer gripper mechanism can be'l swung out from itsoperative position into an inoperative position. r

Inorder to attain these and otherobjects which will be apparent from thefollowing description yand appended claims, I provide pneumatically'controlled mechanism Vadapt- 'ed to perform a combination or series offuncf tions occurring under different conditions.. For example, whenYthe transfer gripper mechanism is swung by hand into its inoperativeposition, the impression' cylinder grippers are renderedinoperative,rwhile the press Yitself can Continueto voperate if sodesired. `By swinging saidrmechansm into such position, the `cylinder isreadily accessible' for make-ready. p

When a sheet misses, that is to say, when a Vsheetis not presented tothe transfer mechanism', or when itis presented thereto out of properregister, then the transfer gripper mechanism is automatically locked inone of its end positions` namely, when it is adjacent the edgeof lthelfeed tableoverwhich the sheets are conveyed, and, unless the: vacuum lmeto the4 automat-1c stop mechanlsm isshut off, the cylinder 'andtherewith the ink fountain" are tripped and the press stopped.

I will now proceed todisclosea preferred embodiment of my invention anddescribe consecutively-the arrangement and groups ofthe various partswhereby certain functions are attained. Y y

For theV purpose of simplification, I have illustrated in theaccompanyingsheets of drawings merely those parts of' aprinting presslthat'are essential to render the inventionsuccinctto anyone skilled inthe art, the same' referencejcharacters applying to like partsthroughout the several Views. I

y In these drawings: Y' Figure l is a partial,sideelevationY of aprinting press to which mycinvention is .applied and shows the generalarrangement of theparts comprising the improvedA control mechanism;

Figure 2 is a fractional plan view of Figure l, indicating thearrangement'of the impression cylinder grippers andA -thef operating.

mechanism for the stop grippers,the latter,

however, being shown in the inoperative position, i. le. when the bar onwhich they are mounted is swung upward 180 from the position illustratedin Figure l; A

' Figure 8 is a partial side elevation showing substantially the samesection ofthe press as illustrated in Figure l, but taken fromtheopposite side of the press;

Figure 4 shows a fractional cross-section Vof a detail taken alongline'll-Ll `of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is adetail sectional view taken through the transfer grippermechanism and indicating the arrangen'ient of an air duct whereby thepneumatic mechanism for automatically locking the transfer grippermechanism is controlled;

Figure 7 illustrates the relative arrangement of the impression cylindergripper operating mechanism to the transfer gripper mechanism, theAlatter being shown in its inoperative position, i. e. swung up 180 fromthe position shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 8 indicates the arrangement of the transfer gripper actuatingmechanism.

As is apparent from the accompanying drawings, the printing press towhich the invention is applied is of the two-revolution type andcomprises a main frame 10 which supports, among other things, animpression cylinder 11 in any suitable manner commonly known in theconstruction of printing presses.

The sheets 12 are conveyed from stock supply means downwardly over thefeed table 13 by any preferred mechanism, and the leading edge of eachindividual sheet is brought to bear against front guides preferablycarried on the swingably mounted transfer gripper arm 14 as will be moreclearly described hereinafter. `When a sheet has been properly.presented to the front guides, its leading edge is engaged by thegrippers on the arm 14 and the latter is swung away from the feed table13 and towards the impression cylinder 11 for the purpose oftransferring the sheet to the grippers of the latter.

Preferably the gripper bar 14 extends over the entire width of the sheetfeeding or registering mechanism so as to serve for the purpose ofstraightening out the leading edge of the sheets fed to the transfergrippers, therewith assuring perfect register of the sheets.

against the front stops.

From the beginning of the transfer movement of the transfer grippermechanism, the speed ofsaid mechanism is accelerated to attain thesurface speed of the impression cylinder so that the sheet will betransferred from the transfer grippers to the impression cylindergrippers at cylinder speed. lhen the invention is applied in connectionwith a two-revolution press as shown it is of advantage to swing thetransfer gripper arm 14 forward during one revolution of the cylinder 11and to return it to its sheet engaging position during the subsequentrevolution of lthe cylinder.

A preferred form of means to oscillate the transfer gripper mechanismcomprises a gear` sector 16 mounted on the rock shaft 17 which carriesthe arms 14 of the transfer gripper mechanism. The sector 16 meshes withanother gear sector 18, which is pivotally supported on the machineframe at 19. Thev sector 18 is formed with a laterally extending arm 2Oto the eXtreme end of which is pivoted an operating rod 21, the free endof which is slidably supported in any suitable manner. A coil spring 22embraces the rod 21 and acts to push the arm 2O upwardly and the roller23 against the cam 24, which is keyed to the impression cylinder shaft25 so as to rotate with the cylinder during the operation of the press.lhen the roller 23 rides from the high portion of cam 24 towards the lowportion of said cam, the sector 18 will be moved to the right as viewedin Figure 3, and swing the sector 16 upwardly, thereby swinging thetransfer' gripper arm 14 in an anti-clockwise direction according toFigure 3, or in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1.

As is shown in Figure 4, the sector 16 is formed with a recess 26adapted to receive a plunger 27 of a vacuum mechanism controlled by theair ducts 28 and pin holes 29 in the transfer gripper bar 15.

YWhile the plunger 27 is withdrawn as shown in Figure 4, the sector 16,and therewith the transfer gripper mechanism, is free to oscillatebetween the feed table 13 and the impression cylinder 11.

1 willnow describe the means whereby the transfer gripper mechanism isautomatically locked, i. e. held in its inoperative position, in theevent that a sheetl does not reach the transfer grippers, or when asheet is not properly registered with relation to the front guides. l

Referring to Figures 4 and 6, the inner end of the air duct 28 isconnected to a nipple 60 of the pneumatic mechanism for holding thetransfer gripper mechanism in its inoperative position. Anotherconnection leads from the nipple 31 to a vacuum pump or the like. Withinthe vacuum boX 32 is arranged a diaphragm 38, which, during normaloperation of the press, is in the position indicated in broken lines inFigure 4. The diaphragm 33 is operatively connected with the plunger 27by means of a stem 34, lever 35 and stem 36 of the plunger 27.

With the diaphragm 33 in the position as shown, the plunger 27 will beheld against the action of a compression spring 37 and therefore willnot enter the recess 26 when the latter is brought in alignmenttherewith during the oscillation of the sector 16. However, when a sheetof material is not presented to the transfer gripper mechanism, the pinholes 29 will not be sealed and the air will not be exhausted from thevacuum box 82, consequently the spring 37 will force the plunger 27outwardly so as to extend into the recess 26 when presented in alignmenttherewith. At that moment, the high portion of the operating cam 24 willbe in position opposite to that illustrated in Figure 3, and the sector18, which meshes with the sector 16 as hereinbefore described, will havebeen moved to the left due to the cooperation of the roller 23 with thecam 24. Therefore, Vduring continued Arotation of the cylinder shaft 25,to which the cam 24 is secured, the roller 23-will beheld out ofengagement with cam 24 and against the tension of the spring 2 in itstripped position but will bestill .per-

mitted to rotate inasmuch as the press will not be stopped under suchconditions.

The arrangement and operation of the mechanism Awhereby the impressioncylinder is Itripped and the vpress stopped is as, follows, referencesbeing made to Figure l: The transfer ,gripper shaft 17 carries at itsouter end, preferably atthe feeder side of the press, anV eccentric 38connected'to the free end of the operating rod so that said rod moves upanddown'asthe transfer grip.-v `pers oscillate between the table 13 andthe cylinder .11. This movement of the rod 40 is transmitted to themanually operable trip lever 39 of the press Vby means of lever 4l, rod42 and lever 43. The lever 41y is mounted to rock about stud 44, whilethe lever 43 is pivotally mounted at 45 to the machine frame.

The free end of the lever 43 bears against the free end of the lever 47,so that when lever 43 is caused to move the lever 47, i. e.

the trip pedal 39, downwardly, thev ledge 48 provided on the trip pedalwill be able upon manual actuation to engage beneath the stop 49,at-which time the impression cylinder will Vbe raised off impression, i.e. will be in its tripped position.

Figure l shows the relative cooperating parts in a position just priortothemoment when thek impression cylinder lil-'is tripped, that is to say,the rod. 40 has almostreached its lowermost position.. The lever ispivoted at 50 to the machine frame and its free end carries an operatingrod 51, which is normally pressed downwardly by means of a ,coil spring52. Y

`By depressing the trip pedal 39, the rod 51 will be moved upwardly,thereby disconnecting those parts of thetrip Vmechanism 53 whichnormally operate to move Vthe cylinder 1l down onto impression by meansof the connecting bar 54, which is pivotally mounted to'Y vthe free endof the arm 55, wherebythe eccentric 56 is rocked tdOperatWely'engage'theVbearings `of `the impression cylinder 1l for the purpose Vof moving the`latter vup and down.v As the press is of the two-revolution type,however, the return oscillatingmove- :ment of the transfer grippershaftll' `serves to retract or move downwardly the opera"- 4ing rod 51to reseat the trip mechanism 53 in vtime to enable the impressioncylinder to move downwardly for its impression stroke.

When the transfer -grippers are "locked, how` ever, in the event that asheet is not presented to the mechanism, this return oscillatingVmovement' `does not take place and the rod 51 is held in its upwardposition. The trip mechanism 53 is thus held in tripped posi` tion andthe cylinder 11 prevented from moving downward for its impressionstrole.

The trip mechanism 53, whereby normally the impression cylinder l1- ismoved into and out of impression and held in tripped position afteroperation and locking of the trip pedal 39, may be of any desirabledesign, such as are well-known in the manufacture of printing presses,andconsequently it does not uform part of my invention. I have thereforenot described the trip mechanism in .detail but have merelyindicatedlits important parts in Figure l. .3;

l will no-w proceed to describe the means Y whereby the press isautomatically stopped.Y As shownA in Figure l, the. impression cylindershaft 25 has rigidly` secured theretoY a disc formed with a stop portion57 adapted to engage a plunger 58 which projects from the vacuum box 59when the cylinder l1 is in its raised, i. e. tripped position.

The vacuum box 59 is `connected with` a vacuum valve 60-by means of atube V6l within which valve operates a plunger 62, which normallyprojects from the valve and bears against'the operating bar 54.- Thelatter, as

.the cylinder is moved down onto impression, swings to the right asviewed inFigure l, and pushes VVthe plunger 62 inwardly, therebyshutting off. the connection with the vacuum bor'L 59. Bymeans of theaircock' 63, the

voperator of the press can shut off the connection from the valve 60tothe vacuumv pump at will so that air wil-l not be exhausted from thevacuum box 59. i j

Thervacuum boX 59 is pivotallymounted at 64 and is provided with alaterally eXtending arm to which is pivotally secured a Yconnectingrod'65, which in turn is connected with a release lever 66, normallyheld in the position showninFigure l bymeansof av tension spring 67,-and mounted on a1 stud 63.

In the osition shown, the operatingV lever "69, where y tension isappliedto the driving belt 70 of the press by means of a tension pulley7l,\1svheld in itsoperative.pos1t1on,naine ly itis locked by means ofthe pawl 72 engagingthe teeth of the ratchet 73 provided on the arm 74of the lever 75, which latter is pivotally mounted at 76. The lever 75is also formed with an upwardlyextending arm 77, the outer end of whichrests o'n the arm 66. f

It will be seen thatV when the plunger extends from the vacuum boX '59and the disc Ywith its stop portion 57continues to rotate in thedirection indicated, said stop Will engage the plunger 58 and swing thevacuum box 59 about its pivot (i4, thereby moving the connecting roddownwardly and'permitting the lever to drop and to release theengagement of its ratchet 73 With the pawl 72. Thereupon, the pulley 71,which is mounted on the operating lever 69 Will release its tensionagainst the belt 70 and simultaneously the lever 69 by its own gravitywill drop to the right, thereby automatically applying the brake 7S tothe brake Wheel 79 .indicated in broken lines. This brake mechanism in.itself is of a Well-known construction and is merely shown as apreferred form in combination with this invention.

The means whereby the impression cylinder grippers are renderedinoperative Will be readily understood upon inspection of Figure 7,which shows a cam secured to the transfer gripper shaft 17 to movetherewith and to normally cooperate with a roller 81 carried by the cam82 mounted to pivot about the stud 83. rPhe cam 82 is formed with a camsurface 84 which engages a roller 85 mounted on the cylinder grippershaft `86 to open the cylinder grippers 87, shown in Figure 2.

In order to render the impression cylinder 11 conveniently accessiblefor make-ready, etc., the transfer gripper mechanism can be swung out ofits operative position.

lIn Figure 7, the transfer gripper arm 14 is shown in its raisedposition into which position it is swung by means of a handle 113, andWhere it is held against operation preferably by means such as indicatedin Figure 3, and comprisinga plunger 88 engaging Within a recess 89.This plunger can be disengaged from the recess 89 by means of a rod 90arranged to slide Within the shaft 17 and adapted to be manuallyoperated from the feeder side of the press, by means of a knot or thelike, not shown.

1t Will be readily understood that with the cam 80 in the position shownin Figure 7, the cam 82 will be held in its raised position by means ofa coil spring 91 so that during the rotation of the cylinder 11, theroller will not ride over the cam surface 84.

Figure 8 ilustrates the mechanism for opening and closing the transfergrippers 92. This mechanism comprises a rock arm 93 mounted on thetransfer gripper arm 14 and carries a cam roller 94 adapted to cooperatewith a cam 95, as indicated in broken lines, to open the grippers 92.Said grippers are held in closed position by means of a compressionspring 96 exerting pressure against the outer end 97 of the arm 93.

When the transfer gripper arm 14 is in its position Where a sheet istransferred from the grippers 92 to the grippers of the impressioncylinder, the cam 95 Will be oscillated by means of a rod 98, causingthe high portion of the cam 95 to depress the roller 94 and open thegrippers 92. A similar cam means may be provided for operating thetransfer grippers in the other position of the transfer arm, namelyWhere the grippers 92 take a sheet from the feed table 13, such asindicated in Figure 1.

1n Figure 5 l have illustrated a preferred form of gripper padscooperating with the grippers of the transfer mechanism. rl`he gripperpads 99 which are held Within the sockets 100 by means of compressionsprings 101 are formed With a front stop or guide 102, which is arrangedeccentrically to the shaft 103.

Sometimes stock has to be fed, the leading edge of which is not even,and therefore point register is required. That is to say, instead of thesheet registering against each one of the front guides such as 102, someof these guides should be rendered ineffective so that merely a certainnumber of the front guides Will be presented to the front edge of thesheet. I can readily accomplish this by forcing the gripper pads 99 fromtheir sockets 100, and by turning the pads through 130o so that thelocking pin 104, Which engages the recess 105 will enter the recess 106formed in the gripper pad.

s indicated in Figure 1, suitable means is provided for tripping thefountain roller of the inking mechanism, one form of mecha nism forestablishing this purpose comprising a lever 107 which is pivoted at 108to the machine frame. The arm 109 is connected to the bearing of thecylinder 11 so as to move up and down therewith, consequently rockingthe lever 107 and transmitting motion to any suitable fountain tripmechanism by means of the rod 110, bellcrank lever 111 and rod 112.

Preferably I provide a connection with the stop mechanism of the presswhereby the press can beconveniently stopped from the delivery end. Ihave notillustrated any details for such connection, inasmuch as thismay be of any convenient design.

It Will be readily understood that the construction and generalarrangement of the cooperating parts constituting my invention aresubject to the embodiment of various modifications without, however,departing from the principles of the invention. Therefore, it is myintention to cover any such modifications that Will come Within thescope and essence of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a printing press, the combination of sheet feeding mechanism, animpression member, and oscillating sheet transfer means -to convey asheet of material at an accelerating speedfrom said sheet feedingmechanism to said impression member,fsaid transfer means ative position.Y.

42. In a printing press, the combination'of sheetv feeding mechanism, animpression meinber,ioscillating sheet transfer means tol convey a sheetof'material at an accelerating speed from said sheet feeding mechanismto said impression member,means to svving said transfer means out of itsoperative position, and means `vto retain: said transfer l means againstmovement. i

3.' Ina printing` press, the combination of sheet feeding mechanism, animpression cylinder,rosci1lating sheet transfer means to conveyV a sheetof material from saidv sheet feeding mechanism to said impressioncylinder, means vvhereby said transfer means can be swung out of itsoperative position, and means to retain said transfer means againstmovement in its inoperative position.

l. In a printing press, the combination of sheet feeding mechanism, animpression cylinder, sheet transfer means to convey a sheet of materialfrom said sheet feeding mechanism to said cylinder, and automaticallycontrolled means adapted to hold said transfer means against movement.5. In a printing press, the combination of sheet feeding mechanism, animpression cylinder, sheet transfer means to carry a sheet of materialfrom said sheet feeding mechanism to said cylinder, and means controlledby the positionof a sheet to hold said transfer means against movement.

6. In a printing press, the combination of sheet feeding mechanism, animpression cylinder, sheet tranfer means to convey a sheet of materialfrom said sheet feeding mechanism to said cylinder, and pneumaticallyactuated means controlled by sheet feeding conditions to hold saidtransfer means against movement.

being adapted to be swung out of vits oper- 7. In a printing press, thecombination ofV sheet feeding mechanism, an impression cyl- 15)inderhaving sheet engaging grippers, sheet transfer means to convey a sheetof material from said sheet feeding mechanism to said grippers, andunder certain conditions adapted to be held against movement, and

3' means on said sheet transfer means to operate said grippers, thelatter being rendered inoperative When said transfer means is heldagainst movement.`

8. In a printingY press, the combination of sheet feeding mechanism, animpression cylinder having sheet engaging grippers, sheet transfer meansto convey a sheet of material from said sheet feeding mechanism to saidgrippers, means controlled by sheet feeding conditions to automaticallyhold said transfer means against' movement, means to operate saidgrippers, and means to render saidV grippers inoperative when saidtransfer means is held against movement.

9. In a printing press, vthe combination ofi-sheet feeding mechanism, animpression cylinder having sheet engaging grippers, sheet'transfer meansto convey a sheet of material from said sheet feeding mechanism to saidgrippers, pneumatically actuated means controlled by sheet feedingconditions tohold said transfer means against 'movement, mea-ns tooperate said grippers, and` means to render said grippers ,inoperative`'when said transfer means is held against" sheet feeding mechanism, animpression cylinder having sheet engaging grippers, sheet transfer meanshaving register stops and operative to convey a sheet of material fromsaid-sheet feeding mechanism to said cylin# de r, and means to hold saidtransfer means against movement, said register stops being adjustablefor point register. 1

I2. In a printing press, the combination of sheet feeding mechanism, animpression cylinderl havingl sheet engaging grippers,

sheet transfer meansV having register `stops* and operative-tio convey?a sheet' of m'atedal from saidsheet feeding mechanisml to said cylinder,and means actuated When a sheet is notfin v,proper register withsaid'stops to hold' said transfer means against movement.

13. In a printing press, the combination of sheet feeding mechanism,sheetl transfer mechanism, an impression cylinder, means for trippingsaid impression cylinder, and means controlled bythe position of asheet' relative t'o said transfer mechanism to lock thelatteragainstmoveinent and to trip said cylinder. Y Y 4 14.: In la printingpress, the combination of sheet feeding mechanism, sheet` transfermechanism, an impression cylinder, means for tripping said impressioncylinder, and pneumatically actuated means controlled by ice sheetfeeding'conditions to lock said'transfer trip sion cylinder, andpneumatic-ally actuatedV means controlledv by the position Aofv a sheetrelative to said register stops to lock saidv ire transfer mechanismagainst-movement and Y to 'trip said cylinder;` o

16. In a printing'press, the' combination of. slieetfeeding mechanism,anV impression member, and pneumatically'controlled sheet transfer meansto convey a sheet of material from said sheet feeding mechanism to saidimpression member, said transfer means being adapted to be swung out ofits operative position.V

17. In a printing press, the combination of sheet feeding mechanism, animpression member, and oscillating sheet transfer means to convey asheet of material from said sheet feeding mechanism to said impressionmember at an accelerating speed, said transfer means being adapted to beswung out of its operative position.

18. In a printing press, the combination of sheet feeding mechanism, animpression member, and pneumatically controlled sheet transfer means toconvey a sheet of material from said sheet feeding mechanism to saidimpression member at an accelerating speed, said transfer means beingadapted to be swung out of its operative position.

19. In a printing press, the combination of sheet feeding mechanism, animpression member, and sheet transfer means for engaging a sheet ofmaterial While at rest on said sheet feeding mechanism and for conveyingit at an accelerating speed to said impression member, said transfermeans being adapted to be swung out of its operative position.

20. In a printing press, the combination of sheet feeding mechanism, animpression cyl-l inder, pneumatically controlled sheet transfer means toconvey a sheet of material from said sheet feeding mechanism to saidcylinder at an accelerating speed, and automatically controlled meansadapted to hold said transfer means against movement.

21. In a printing press, the combination of sheet feeding mechanism, animpression cylinder, sheet transfer means for engaging a sheet ofmaterial While at rest on said sheet feeding mechanism and for conveyingit at an accelerating speed to said impression cylinder, andautomatically controlled means adapted to hold said sheet transfer meansagainst movement.

22. In a printing press, the combination of sheet feeding meanscomprising a sheet transfer member mounted on a rock shaft, operatingmeans to transmit accelerated motion to said shaft, sheet engaging meanson said transfer member, and means adapted to pivot about said rockshaft to operate said sheet engaging` means.

23. In a printing press, the combination of sheet feeding meanscomprising a sheet transfer member mounted on a rock shaft, operatingmeans to transmit accelerated motion to said shaft, sheet engaging meanson said transfer member, and cam means adapted to pivot about said rockshaft to operate said sheet engaging means.

24. In a printing press of the two-revolution type, the combination ofsheet feeding of June, 1928. I EDIVARD F. DUDLEY.

